Green design: a review of issues and challenges

The author explores issues and challenges likely to be encountered in trying to develop and implement a DFE (design for environment) or green design program. The need for a comprehensive green product realization program is also discussed, and other factors affecting what can be achieved by means of green design today are reviewed. It is noted that, while green design clearly has a role to play in the effort to reduce the lifetime environmental impacts of products, strictly design based activities alone are likely to be insufficient to achieve the desired goals. The complexity of the task calls for a more comprehensive product stewardship or green product realization approach. Since green design is still in its nascent stages, many issues pertaining to implementing viable green design programs remain to be addressed, and challenges, such as the development of effective green design tools, must be met.<>